Historic Florida

The best historic places in Florida will entertain, inform, and probably surprise you. As a bonus, they are also some of the most beautiful places in the state.

Did we miss your favorite?

Few places offer both so much history and such beauty as Florida’s 30 lighthouses. Six of Florida’s lighthouses are built on reefs in the Keys and one of those — Alligator Reef — was awarded this week to a non-profit group to preserve and develop.

The historic Gilbert’s Bar House of Refuge couldn’t be in a prettier spot. It also tells the story of a wild Florida of shipwrecks and pioneers. While you’re exploring the gorgeous beaches here, it’s worth a quick stop.

As you cross the Seven Mile Bridge, you pass the little green island with yellow cottages and palm trees surrounded by dazzling blue water. Stop and visit: Pigeon Key is one of a kind. It offers fascinating history, tropical beauty, even great snorkeling.

Punta Gorda is blessed with a beautiful riverfront location, but it doesn’t have a beach. And there lies the reason it has an off-the-beaten-track quality. It’s a great place for kayaking, biking, hiking, birding and discovering funky crab shacks and other authentic Florida experiences.

Witness 5,000 years of history through a glass wall at this Indian midden at Spanish Point, and learn about the Palmer family’s profound impact on Sarasota County.

Many people miss it, sticking to Duval Street, but one of the most scenic strolls in Key West — and a top freebie — is the harbor walk along Key West Bight, also known as the Historic Key West Seaport.

Kingsley Plantation, part of a little known national park near Jacksonville, is a beautiful site that tells stories of slaves and slave holders that may surprise you.

Just five minutes off I-95, we discovered the perfect stop on a roadtrip or weekend getaway destination: a lovely and intriguing historic district in Jacksonville.

Part II of Visiting Jacksonville: A companion to our guide to visiting Jacksonville’s historic Riverside Avondale neighborhood. This is a walking tour of historic homes, with photos and a map to guide you.